Torque arm suspension unit



April 19, 1949. G. F, SHEPPARD 2,467,917

' TORQqE ARM SUSPENSION UNIT I Filed July 21, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR GEO/m5 F SHEPPARD I ATTORNEY April 19, 1949. G. F. SHEPPARD 2,467,917

TORQUE ARM SUSPENSION UNIT Filed July 21, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR GELIRGEF SHEPPAR 0 I IBQA/M ATTORNE Patented Apr. 19, 1949 UNI 2,467,9 17 TORQUEARMiSUSPENSION UNIT GeorgeF; Sheppard, Mount Royal,"Qtieb'ec,'

Canada Application July-r21, 1947,- .Serial 'No; 762,446

''Cla'imsl. (01. 105 13233) Introduction. 1

This invention relates to torque arm suspension. units, and more. particularlyjto torque'arm;sus-.

pension units'adapted, to prevent theturning. of transmission generator drive assemblies operat-. ing on railway car truck axles.

The suspension unitsmustomarily used have proven unsatisfactory, in..th'at, the metal to .metal construction in the moving ,partswere in con-.-. stant need oflubrication, the Jack tof which, through wean, caused slack connection; resulting in, noise. and eventnalbreakage,

The present invention deals." fundamentally with these conditions, and it aimsto; devise-a thoroughly practical solutionforthem.

To" more readily understand the invention it must be understoodthat the ,saidgenerator drive has a housingwhich, is mounted ,on a railway. truck axle, andwhi'ch is adapted for the free r0.- tation of the axleiwithin the .ho'using,,said house. ing enclosing the necessary gears, etc;' to drive a driveshaft which. is at substantially rightangleS to. theaxle; said'drive shaftiextendihg from .an extension of the main housing. The torque .arm, which is an elongated memb er, shaped ,to'clear obstructions, has one end detachably fixedt'othe extension of the. housing, andjits otheror-zdistal end. resiliently'suspended fromthe transom of the truck. The suspension assembly is ;designed to compensate for the. many movements. between the truck axle and the truck transom- The invention, a

The invention resides-in the; mounting of .the distal end of said :torque arm to said .trucktran som; by" means: of resilientrubberlikeiball bearing members which'are'adapted, as'willbe described, to eliminate movable m'etal-to-metal contacts..-

More specifically, iingaccordance with. the .invention, at-least one of the supporting or-supported -members;- -i. e. 'trucktransom'or torque. arm,is provided with; a plate. There-is a hole in this plate; countersunk ateach surface to form opposed annular seats. A connectingtrod; for example a bolt, extends through-the 'hole. to'cone nect one end with the other supporting or "sun.- ported memberz, -At'the end of thezconnecting rod, remote from this connection, *is :a retaining means; for-example a heador --nut.-'* Between the retainingmeans-and the plate is a resilientbearing of a character to be I described; and at' the other side of the plate-is a companionbearingiof a similar character, 'andthe combination 'in cludesmeans- =forplacing'the saidresilientrbearings under compression. The bearings each form at least a portion of a sphere, and are impaled on the connecting member through a hole extending therethr'ough, the spherical surface of each bearing-engaging one of .the annular seats. The efiective diameter. of each member is greater than thatof the hole so thatit engages its annular seat with a portionacompressed. through the hole against the companion spacing vmember, therebyseparating the plate and-the connecting member and. preventing contact of the metal plate'with'the metalconnecting rod. Preferably both the trucktransom. and torque arminclude a plateof thelnature described, and companion bearings as; mentioned, clinch each plate and intermediatepressure means, like a spring, intervenes'the' inner bearings. Aretaining means. is providedat-each, endof the connecting rod, .preferablyia head atone end-and a nut at. the. other, compressionon :the assembly being provided by adjusting the nut.

Detailed description The nature and" details of the inventionwillbe more-readily understood from the following de-. taileddescription; when-read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings; inwhich- Figure -1 is a perspective 'view of a complete transmission assembly including the method of connecting the torque arm tothe. transom bar. of the truck according to the invention:

Figure *2 is a side elevation". of the transmission assembly illustrating the'single mounting.

Figure 3 is an enlargedplan view of the torque armand mounting'in the" single form:

Figure 4 is an endview of the'torque "arm and mounting illustratedin Figure'3.

Figure-5 is a side elevation partly 'in section' of the single suspension-- torque arm.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a transmise sion assembly using :a dual torquearm "suspension."-

Figure'? is a side-elevationof-the transmission assembly and dual suspension.

Figure 8' is a plan-view of the dual suspension mounting: 3

Figure 9 is an end view'of'the dual suspension mounting.

Figure 10 is an-enlargedsection' of the mount: ing taken-on the line- I'll-110, Figure 8.

Figure ll'is a fragmentary. side elevation partly in"--section-:of a device 1 such as. that shown in Figures 1 to :5 illustrating the parts rundenworke ingconditions.

With. particular" reference to' the drawings,

namely Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, which illustrate a preferred form of single suspension mounting, [6 represents the transmission housing which is rotatably mounted on a railway car truck axle l4. An extension l6 from the main housing I6 is equipped with an eyelet l6 which is attached to torque arm 26 by a bolt 22.

The torque arm 26 is composed of two side members 24 which are spaced apart by a web 26 welded to the side members 24. A pair of flanges 28 extending outwardly from the side members 24 are adapted to be engaged by the ends of a U bolt 36 which encircles the extension l6 of the main housing. The U bolt 36 is attached to the flanges 28 by means of suitable washers, nuts and lock nuts, as illustrated. This method of mounting the torque arm to the drive housing [6 is restricted to housings now in use, and is adapted for conversion purposes. Another method of attachment is detailed as an alternative and is used in preference for new installations.

On the opposite or distal end of the torque arm 26, the two side members 24 are spaced apart by a spacer 32, said spacer 32 being bored and counterbored from both sides providing annular shoulders 34, the counterboring from each side having a radius X which provides annular seats 36.

Welded to the transom 38 of the car truck is the suspension mounting plate 46, the overhanging portion of said plate 46 being bored and countersunk from both sides providing an annular shoulder 34 with rounded annular seating surfaces 36 similar to those counterbored with the spacer 32. The length of the plate 46 is such that the axis of the boring in the spacer 32 is common with the axis of the plate boring and that the axis of the holes is disposed vertically. In a preferred form, the resilient connection between the torque arm 26 and the mounting plate 46, consists of a connecting rod 56 Which is adapted to carry an assembly of washers, helical springs and rubberlike, spherical and hemispherical bearings which co-act to insulate the connecting rod 56 from both the plate 46 and the torque arm spacer or plate 32 in order to provide resiliency to the mounting. The rubberlike bearing members are centrally bored to provide passage of the connecting rod shank, the complete assembly being held by a head 54 on one end and a nut 32 threadably engaged to the other end of the connecting rod, 56.

With particular reference to Figure 5, which illustrates the assembled suspension mounting in its preferred form, a washer 52 is placed on the connecting rod 56 adjacent the head 54, and a rubberlike sphere 56 is placed on the bolt 56 next to the washer 52. The shank of the bolt 56 is then passed through the opening in the torque arm spacer 32 allowing the rubberlike sphere 56 to seat against the underside of the annular shoulder 34 on the seat 36. A hemisphere 58, of rubberlike material similar to the sphere 56, is placed on the shank of the bolt 56 backed up by a metal washer 66, the rounded portion of the hemisphere seating against the shoulder seat 36 on the upper side of the spacer 32, the shoulder 34 thereby being clinched between the opposing spherical faces of the rubberlike bearings. The washer 66, which seats against the flat side of the hemisphere 58, is equipped with an upwardly-extending annular boss 62 centered around the hole in the washer, said boss 62 is adapted to center a helical spring 4 64 which is seated against the washer 66. Centered on the bolt 56 and seated against the end of the helical spring 64 is a dividing washer 66 which has an annular boss 66 and 16 respectively on each face similar to the boss 62 on the washer 66. The washer 66, when seated against the spring 64, centers the spring 64 by means of the boss I6 on the underside of the washer 66, while the upper boss 68 centers a second helical spring 12 which is seated on the upper face of the washer 66. A fourth washer 14 similar to the washer 66 is placed boss down, over the bolt 56 to seat against, and center, the upper end of the spring 12. Placed over the bolt 56, fiat face down is a second hemisphere T6 of rubberlike material similar to the hemisphere 53, the flat face of said hemisphere being seated against the flat face of the washer 14. The bolt 56 is then passed through the boring in the suspension plate 46, portions of the spherical surface of the hemisphere I6 seating against the seating surface 36 on the underside of the annular shoulder 34. A second spherical centrallybored. bearing 16, similar to 56 of rubberlike material, is placed on the bolt 56 to seat against the upper seat 36 of the shoulder 34 and clinch the shoulder 34 of the suspension plates 46 between the opposed spherical faces of the bearings 16-18. A fifth washer 86 is placed over the bolt 56, seated against the rubberlike sphere l8 and said complete resilient suspension assembly is retained on the bolt 56 by a nut 82 which is threadably engaged to the bolt 56, and seated against the upper face of the washer 86. Once adjusted to apply proper compression on the susficient force to deform the spherical surface of the bearings, causing the bearing to flow into the cavity between the shoulders 34 and the connecting member 56, thus insulating the connecting member 56 against the contact with the shoulders 34.

It Will be understood from the nature of this description that the cross sectional diameter of the rubber-like spheres and hemispheres exceeds the diameter of the hole formed by the shoulders 34 in both the spacer 32 and the suspension plate 46, so that when the adjacent spheres are seated on opposite seats of the shoulders 34, the plate 46 or the spacer 32 are held resiliently between the two spherical faces. As an example with a diameter of 1%" between the opposing ends of the shoulders 34, the diameter of the spheres should be 2%," and the radius of the countersunk seats 36 should be 1%".

The spherical and hemispherical bearings of rubberlike material should be resistant to oils, solvents, oxidation, change of temperature, sunlight, and should also be resistant to salt solutions and water. It must be highly resilient under compression, tough and easily processed. The applicant favours the use of synthetic rubber, having the above characteristics, such as a lon chain synthetic rubber made by the polymerization of chloroprene (monochloro butadiene, HzCCClCHCI-Iz) sold under the commercial name neoprene, or Hycar and Buna N, which are synthetic rubbers made by the co-polymerization of unsaturated organic chemicals such as butadiene and acrylonitrile.

In order to compensate for the varying heights of the transom, a block 84 of required thickness greater clearance between the suspension; ass.

sembly and the generator dliVerShaftilBfiL; necessitates a modified design of itorquenarm' which passes. over. the transom: I38. rather than;

under it, as illustrated in Figures 1: to5inc1usive: The torque .arm' .IZIt-may. befixed 170213118: house lng extensionllfi lay-eyelet, and bolt=il22;.2andreinforced byza U bolt as previouslytdetailedon may be attached by a modifiedformwhich; is illustratedinfi, I, 8, and 9. s. This :modifiediorm is especially adapted -for 1 new installations; in which elongated attaching ,lugs. I 885 are cast :in-= tegrally with the housing extension II8. Flanges I28 extending outwardly from the sideimembers- I28'of the torque arm aredrilledco-axially .with the lugs I98 and are adapted to be :fixedtosthe lugs I98 by connecting rods'such as: bolts and nuts I82 and :I'M'. respectively. p A groove :I96 which extends laterally-across the housingzieie tension I I8, is adapted to seat a tongue I88 which is fixed to the seating surface of. the torque. arm below the .fianges. I28: This tongue-I98 and groove I88 co-act to provide greater strength against shearing. The torque. arm is adapted to pass over the transom I 38 and 1 turn downwardly to below the levelqof the'tophofathe transom I38. Welded at .1'lght--'angles to the endof the torque arm I28 and substantiallyiparallel=with the truck axle H4 and the transom I38t'isia torque arm plate I88, said plate I86 being drilled and counterbored/adjacent both ends providing a hole having annular shoulders I34 and seats I38 similar to the spacer 32 and the suspension plate 48.

Suspensionplates I48 are welded to the'transom I38 on center with the borings in the arm I86,;said plates M8 being of proper length and shimmed to proper height, bymeansotextra plates -I84',Jto. ensure the connecting rod I5Il:- of the suspension assembly, being in a substantially vertical position.

Said suspension plates I48 rarelbored andcounterbored to provide-annular shoulders I 34 and seating surfaces I88 as in the lower or torque arm plate I88.

Identical suspensionassemblies as thosedescribed above may be used, but it is preferred by the applicant to slightly modify the assembly to secure adequate clearance between the torque arm plate I88 and the generator drive shaft I88. The modification consists of leaving out one of the helical springs 64-42 and the seating washer 86, thus using only one spring I84 which is seated, at each end, on the bossed washers I88 and I18, which are in turn seated against the fiat faces of the rubberlike hemispheres I58 and I18, which, in co-operation with the spheres I58 and I78, clinch the shoulders I84 on the torque arm plate I88 and the suspension plates I48.

Strengthening members 288 may be welded, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, to the torque arm side members I28 and the flanges I28 in order to provide greater strength to the flanges I28.

Advantages A primary advantage of the applicant's structure over those at present in use is that the synthetic rubber bearings, which insulate the moving metal parts l'fromyone; anothenreliminate:

thecgreasing and: oiling: necessary: when: metal :15 working on metal.

'I'heiong wear experienced:bytheguse of the applicantfsi structure hasmaterially reduced the maintenance: factor necessary; on the: metalwto metal-type of suspension assemblie now; in use;

It will benunderstood: that,v without departing from the spirit of the invention orzthe scope of the: claims;v various-modifications may: be made in;thezspecifictexpedients described; The-latter are- -illustrative'only, and not ofiered in a restrice tive sense, it being desired that only such limitations shall be; placed thereonaasrnay': be required'bythe state of the prior art.

The subetitlescused throughout. the specification; are merely to; simplify; reference theretoand should otherwise.,bezdisregardedt I clai mzc:

t 1. Amonntingdeviceiior providing a connecr tion betweenza torque: armufor a generator .driye assemblyzfromga railway car.- truck axle and a railway: carwbody, comprising, a first suspension plate "rigidly" connectable to the car, 1 a second suspension plateiconnectable to the ,torque arm and adapted to,liesubstantiallyparallel to the,

first platetand inispaced relation thereto; each plate being fiormed with an openingadapted to behalignedwiththe opening insthe other plate, a connecting rod extending. between the. plates and'rth-roughr-said openings; the diameter; of the connecting-rod being less than; that or the onenings to provide a clearance space between the walls.1,oi theqcpeningsxand the face ofathe. rod,

1 each? platebeing provided; with: a radiused countersunk-recession each; face'thereoi about the openlng-zzto provide a bearing ,surface, .and"for each recess a, spherical memberof: a resilient yd ocarbon solvent einsoluble, elastomer havin an; axial; opening of slightly greater diameter than that-1 or. the, rodlcy which said spherical membenis slidablymountedon said'rod vbut free toumo-ve axially thereof and having a face of spherical; contour. bearing. -.agai nstthe I recess, thererbeing thus outer and inner spherical membersrcontactingeach plate, retaining means at a terminal'rpoint .of each end. of saidconnectins rod-and: actin against. the outer resilient bear,-

ingi'members; resilient means mounted on said rod;actinga.outward1y against the inner spherical memhers ithereby to press. each inner spherical member against its adjacent suspension plate, the opening in the spherical members being slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of the connecting rod, the diameter of the opening in each plate being considerably greater than the diameter of the connecting rod, the size and shape of said recesses corresponding substantially with the uncompressed size and shape of the adjacent portion of the spherical member, the respective sizes of the openings, recesses, spherical members and of the connecting rod, the thickness of the plates and the resilience of the spherical members and resilient means being such that portions of the spherical members are forced into the space between the walls of the recesses and the adjacent faces of the connecting rod until contact is made between portions of the adjacent spherical members and a resilient shield is thus formed between the walls of each opening and the face of the connecting rod.

2. A mounting device, according to claim 1, wherein each of the resilient spherical members on the inside of the respective plates is a segment of a sphere in overall contour, and each of the spherical members on the outside of the respective plates is a complete sphere in overall contour.

3. A mounting device, according to claim 1, wherein there is a head on one end of said connecting rod and a threaded end and a nut on the other end of said connecting rod, and washers separate the head and nut from the adjacent outer spherical members.

4. A mounting device, according to claim 1, wherein the outwardly acting resilient means includes a compression spring mounted on said connecting rod.

5. A mounting device, according to claim 1, wherein said outwardly acting resilient means has a compression spring mounted on said connecting rod and there is a washer separating said spring from the inner spherical members.

6. A mounting device, according to claim 1, wherein each of the resilient spherical members on the inside of the respective plates is a hemisphere in overall contour, and each of the spherical members on the outside of the respective plates is a complete sphere in overall contour, there is a head on one end of the connecting rod and a threaded end and nut on the other end of the connecting rod, and washers intervene the head and nut and the adjacent outer spherical members, the outwardly acting resilient means includes a compression spring mounted on the connecting rod, and there is a washer separating the spring from each inner spherical member.

7. A mounting device for providing a connection between a torque arm for a generator drive assembly from a railway car truck axle and a railway car body, comprising, a rigid suspension member including a plate, said plate being formed with an opening, a connecting rod extending through the opening in said plate, the diameter of the connecting rod being less than that of the opening to provide a clearance space between the walls of the opening and the face of the rod, said plate being provided with a radiusecl countersunk recess on each face thereof about the opening to provide a bearing surface, and for each recess a spherical member of a resilient hydrocarbon solvent-insoluble elastomer one at each side of said plate and each having an axial opening by which it is slidably mounted on said rod and free to move axially thereof, and having a face of spherical contour bearing against a side of the plate contacting the recess thereof, retaining means on the rod contacting one of said spherical members and resilient means mounted on said rod and acting in compression against said other spherical member, the clearance space between the walls of the opening and the face of the rod permitting a portion of a spherical member to be forced between the walls of the opening and the face of the connecting rod until contact is made between portions of the adjacent spherical members and a resilient shield is thus formed between the walls of the opening and the face of the connecting rod, and means on said rod at the end opposite said retaining means for forming a flexible connection from said rod to a second suspension member, one of said suspension members being a part of the torque arm of the generator drive assembly and the other of said suspension members being a part of the railway car body.

8. A suspension unit, according to claim 7,

wherein one of said spherical members is substantially a, segment of a sphere in overall contour and the other of said spherical members is substantially a complete sphere in overall contour.

9. A mounting device, according to claim 1, wherein the outwardly acting resilient means includes a plurality of compression springs mounted on the connecting rod.

0. A mounting device, according to claim 1, wherein the outwardly acting resilient means includes a plurality of compression springs mounted on the connecting rod, and a washer separates the respective springs.

GEO. F. SHEPPARD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 448,260 Rice Mar. 17, 1891 464,253 Peckham Dec. 1, 1891 524,117 Rice Aug. 7, 1894 2,083,277 Scott June 8, 1947 2,389,562 Storck Nov. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 475,678 Germany Apr. 30, 1929 

